Radiator cap



Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,766v

w. G. NEWTON RADIATOR CAP Filed Feb. 12,' 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2.? 3e INVENTOR.

Q M] /7 v BY 9 37 f ATTORNEYS. Mme/4 1 Sept. 4,1928. 1,682,766

. W. G. NEWTON RADIATOR CAP Filed Feb. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I0 W .kw 8 7 I INV NTOR.

F 6 BY wzmuwz;

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

WILLIAM G. nnwron, or nasr cannon-new JERSEY- y ADIATOR CAP.

Application filed February Thislinvention relates to an improvement in radiator caps for automobiles and the like;

It is one object of thisinvention to provide a radiator cap witha threaded member to engage the neck of a radiator and topermit thecap to hescrewed on the said neck,

but to prevent the removal of the said cap. This is accomplished by providing ahelical spring member between the threaded member and the body portion of the cap, sothat the threaded member is engaged and carried along by said spring when the body portion 1 rotated in one direction and is released \vhenthe body portionis rotated in an opposite direction. l 1

Another object is to provide an improved latching means for securing thehinged lid of the cap. 1

Various other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification f i Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a radiator cap embodying the present invention in positionon a radiatorneck. Fig. 2is a side elevation of Fig. 1 partly in section; Fig. 3 is partialsectional view of the cap itself shown in Fig. 1; a

Fig. 4: is a front elevation of the cap shownin Fig. 1 withthecover open and ,the arms and indicating instrument omitted.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the cap shown inFig.1; y

Fig. 6 is a sectional view ofa radiatoroap with a modified threaded member or insert inthe said cap; v

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the latching means in place olrthe front of a radiator cap; r Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the latch itself. 1

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of Fig ure2 on an enlarged scale showing ahelical spring and retaining ring of square cross Section instead of round cross section. Similar eharactersofreference refer to similar parts in eachoftheaccompanying drawings. a a Y In theparticular embodiment of the invention illustrated, theradiator cap comprisesa body portion 1 mounted on the neck 12, was. Serial 110181359.

of a radiator 2,and having a covert hinged; ly connected thereto, and .alat-ching means the said cover in its closed position.

The body portion has an opening 6there through with an annular projection Shear the upper end of said opening and an annu lar slot 9 near the lower end of said opening;

.56 -5 attached to said body portion for locking A pairof oppositely extending arms 38 projeot from the outer surface ofthe said body portion for facilitating the applic'ationlof the cap. As shown in the drawingathe arms are in the form "of a pair of wings,

which improve the appearance of the cap but ployed.

any form of arms "or'other means by which the cap may be rotated may be ein lower end of the opening in the body portion of the cap, and is held in place by a spring ring 10 fitting in the said sl0t9 of the body portion and slot 11 in" the said in sort. The npper end of said insert has a re cessedport1on12 in which a helical spring 13fits. The ringlO and thespring 13 may: beround, oblong,or ofany desired shape in cross section; for instance, ofsquare cross section as shown in Figure 9. The spring 13 has a hook 15 on one end thereof to engage a slot 14 in the said body portion. The

other end 16 of said spring istaperedso that it slidesfreely over the surface of the insert. If this spring be wound of a pin rality of rlght hand turns17,"preferably slightlysmaller than the said insert, then the said. springwill tighten and hug the insert and carry it along when the cap is turned in a clockwise rotation. On the other hand, when the cap is rotated in a counterclockwise manner, the spring will'loosenand release the insert and slip freely over the.

surface of the said insert. In other words, the insert is caused to rotate with thecap whenthe latter is screwed one way, and remains. stationary when the cap is screwed or turned in theopposite way. It is similar 1 in action toa friction clutch. By the use of this construction, a non-reversibleor unirotatable insert is obtained which may be used to make aradiator cap theft proof. Theinsert may be provided with eitherinteriorthreads 18 as shown in Fig.2, or exterior threads was shown in Fig. 6. These upwardly from the said body portion, for

receiving a pin 22 which passes through the barrel 23 of said hinge. A central aperture 26 is provided in the cover for receiving the stem of the indicating instrument, so that the latter will be positioned symmetrically with respect to the radiator cap. In order to make the cap fluid-tight, a

a gasket 27 i is inserted between the body por tion and the a cover. The gasket fits in a seat 23 in the upperpart of thebody portion, and; is held firmly in that seat when the cover is: closed by a conical shoulder 28 on --the underside of the cover.

Any suitable means may be employed for holding the cover upon its seat, but an improved latching means 5 is illustrated, consisting of apair of links 30 and a toggle latch 31, as is clearly shown in the enlarged view in Fig. 7. The links are connected to a projecting lug 36 on the body portion by means of a pin 35. The other end of each link is connected to the toggle latch by a pin 37. The toggle latch has a projecting lug 32 at itsllpper end to engage a depress on 34 adjacent the end of a radial pro ect1on 33-0n the cover. This arrangement affords a positive latching means, because after the latch is forced inwardly pastthe dead center, it is held securely in place by the upward pressure of the radial projection 33 on the lug 32.

The use of long links is also eliminated by the use of this improved latch. It is to be noted that the short links are positioned whollybelow the cover when the cap isin a closed position. In this manner, the links and the radial projection onthe cover are concealed'in a slot 38 on the back of the latch. As the front of the latch presents a smooth surface, it may be provided with an ornamental escutcheon plate or the like.

Of course, it is to benoted thatthis improved latch'may be used with any form of hinged ea or cover.

It will e observed that by the use of the insert described herein, a radiator cap may be securely attached to the neck of a radiator without fear of its removal. Furthermore, the cap may be screwed on the radiator neck until all the threads are engaged; and, then, by virtue of the smooth friction clutch, the cap may be turned back to its correct position. This position being the one in which the indicating instrument may friction of the helical spring on the insert, the cap is held in its correct position.

7 While I have, in this specification and the drawings which accompany it, shown certain constructions in which my invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these are merel illustrative and obviously may be modified in many res ects without departing from the spirit 0 the invention as defined in the appended claims. I What I claim is:

1. A radiator cap comprising a body portion, an insert fitting in said body portion for engaging the neck of a radiator, and a helical spring interposed between said body portion and said insert, said spring en agingand carrying the insert a on witi it when the body portion is rotated in one direction, and releasing said insert when rotated in the opposite direction. a i

2. A radiator cap comprising a body portion, an insert, and a friction clutch comprising a tension element gripping the insert and fitting in said body portion, the

saidclutch operating when the cap is turned in the direction to tension said e ement but releasing when turned in the opposite direction.

3; A radiator cap comprising a body ortion, a cover for said body port-ion, an an insert for securing said body portion to the neck of the radiator, said insert comprising a hollow cylindrical member having a threaded ortion for engaging the threads on the raditor neck and having a plain oylindrical surface thereon, and a helical spring wound around said cylindrical surface and anchored at one end to said body portion; so that when the cap is rotated one way the spring will grip and turn the insert, but will release its grip when the cap is turned the opposite way.

. 4. A radiator cap comprising a body portion having an opening therethrough with a slot adjacent the lower end, a cap for said body ortion, a non-reversible insert attachab e in fixed relation to the radiator, a spring fitting in the slot of said body portion for holding said body normal position longitudinaly of the insert, and a second spring between the body and insert for resisting relative rotation thereof.

5. A radiator cap comprising a body portion, an insert therein attachable in fixed relation to the radiator, and spring means between the body portion and the insert fixing the longitudinal position of the cap body relative to the insert and also controllin the vrotative movement of the cap body re ative to the insert.

. In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

WILLIAM G. NEWTON.

ortion in its 

